Connectors make connections in a connected world

 I must admit that I had a little trouble thinking of how I could answer this week’s assignment questions. After a quick google search, where I literally typed “strategies for networking”, I found an article not at all related to education but gave me a great starting point.

Here are my 3 takeaway strategies from a BDC article entitled “6 strategies to improve your business networking skills”:

1. Make a plan

Image taken from City of New Westminster

 “At the beginning of the year, when working on their business plan, entrepreneurs should also look at their networking strategy and answer questions such as: Who do I want to meet on a regular basis? Who do I want to do business with this year? At the end of the year, assess how you did in meeting your goals and how relationships with people in your network helped your business.” ("6 ways to improve your business networking skills", 2020).

This reminds me of the school plans that teachers make at the beginning of a school year. We generally identify 3 goals that are inline with divisional goals and identify strategies to meet those goals. My own Personal Learning Plan (a Professional Learning plan submitted to the principal each year by teachers), is normally aligned with one of the goals as well.

Our school's literacy goal this year is the following: "By the end of June 2021, 85% of our students will achieve a mark of 3 or higher in reading in English and French." 

We are now in the process of highlighting possible strategies to meet this goal. I think continuing to look at my colleagues blogs (certainly about fostering a reading culture) will give me some great ideas. 

2. Get started

“A rule of thumb is to ask around and see what type of activities your peers are attending. Workshops, conferences and trade shows are excellent ways of meeting new people and offer terrific opportunities for  business development.” ("6 ways to improve your business networking skills", 2020).

I have had the opportunity to be involved in many Professional Learning Communities in my schools. These are school-based groups for teachers who share a common interest and are wanting to learn more. The division pays for substitutes so that the teachers can meet at school 5 or 6 times a year. It’s an excellent way to share ideas and learn from one another. I plan to continue to participate and as a teacher-leader, take more responsibility in organizing these groups.  

3. Connect with connectors

Image taken from Inc,com

“It’s better to have 10 mutually beneficial relationships in your database than 100 casual contacts. Put time and effort into building relationships of trust with connectors and influencers in your industry, people that Elliot calls “the movers and the shakers.” Cultivate these connections and don’t take them for granted.” ("6 ways to improve your business networking skills", 2020)

I have recently been exploring Teacher2Teacher. “Born from the belief that no one knows teaching like teachers, Teacher2Teacher is a growing community where you can connect to share resources, learn from one another, and solve the big problems that no one can solve alone. Join us and help shape the conversation.” ("Teacher2Teacher Home Page", 2020)

I love practical ideas that I can use right away. This website offers great articles about a broad range of topics. For instance, the following article offers ideas to engage students during distance learning by asking fun and interesting questions. This is a great way to build connections remotely with students and is something that I’m going to share with the staff next week.

Image by Teacher2Teacher Team 04.28.20

This website is also an example of some of the ways that educators and professionals are connecting and sharing their learning. On a side note, Teacher2Teacher is supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which is cool.

What can you do during this class and after it is over to maintain your connections and networks, to further develop your knowledge, experience and skills?

What I like about this course is its practicality, I will continue to use Feedly as a tool to maintain connections. I especially like being in a small group because I feel as though I can take the time to read the blog posts, offer a comment and build a meaningful network of colleagues across the country. 

Bibliography

Teacher2Teacher Home Page. (2020). Retrieved 16 October 2020, from https://www.teacher2teacher.education/

 6 ways to improve your business networking skills. (2020). Retrieved 16 October 2020, from https://www.bdc.ca/en/articles-tools/entrepreneurial-skills/improve-networking/pages/business-networking-tips-entrepreneurs.aspx